As her consciousness slowly drifted toward sleep, her mind tried to fight a bloody battle against what her body already knew. She wanted him, and she wanted him bad.
Throw guilt to the wind, it screamed at her. For tonight, at least her mind won the war over her body’s assault, deciding not to risk the possible destruction of her life.
But damn him and damn that kiss.
Chapter Eight
To Hell with Self-Control
Over the next few weeks, Emily fell into her routine at the restaurant with ease and was happy that Dillon found himself in a more normal schedule. He wasn’t getting in as late in the evenings. For Emily, things started to calm down. Dillon pulled a few strings with a client of his, who held a position high up in the New York City school district, landing Emily a full-time teaching position located in Greenwich Village. She was excited that in less than a month she would finally start her career at what she had spent so many years in college for and was even happier that she’d be surrounded by first graders. It was the grade she had wanted to teach because she felt the beginning of a child’s educational start in life was their most important.
“Are you almost ready, babe?” Dillon called out impatiently while waiting on her couch.
“Just give me two more minutes.” She pinned up the last few strands of her hair.
She studied her reflection in the mirror and decided that even though the auburn mess was uncooperative on this particular afternoon it would have to do. She threw on a green-and-brown boho summer dress with spaghetti straps, grabbed a pair of brown heels, and slipped into the living room.
“You look quite delicious,” Dillon remarked with a smile on his face as he moved toward her. “Are you excited?”
“I am, but you don’t have to do this.” She snaked her arms around his neck, her heels dangling from her fingertips. “I have enough clothing.”
“Yes, but you don’t have any from the boutiques on Fifth Avenue.” He pulled her closer and breathed against her cheek. “And, not to mention, I’d love to get you some more sexy lingerie from there, too.”
“I bet you would,” she replied, arching her brow.
He tilted her neck back, feathering kisses against it. “You have no idea.”
Olivia cleared her throat, interrupting them from the intimate moment. “Where are you two lovers off to today?” she asked, rolling her eyes.
With a smart-ass smile on his face, Dillon walked over to Olivia, slinging his arm over her shoulder. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite person in the world.”
“Get off me, Douche,” she spat, ducking her smaller frame out from beneath him.
“Dillon’s taking me clothes shopping,” Emily quickly interjected. She curled her arms around Dillon’s stomach and pulled him away. She slipped her feet into her heels. “What are you doing today?”
“I’m finishing up the last of my painting and taking it to the gallery for the show,” she replied as she poured herself a cup of coffee. “You’re still coming, right?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for anything, chick.”
“Do you want to come with me tomorrow to get our nails done?” Olivia asked. “I so need a pedicure, too.”
Dillon slid his arm around Emily’s waist, leading her toward the door. “I hate to break up this female conversation, but I have places to take my girlfriend to, Ollie.”
Emily kinked her neck back to look at Olivia. “Yes, Liv, it’s a mani-pedi date. I’ll see you later.”
Olivia shook her head, and watched the two of them walk out of the apartment.
“You know, you really need to stop being such a jerk to her,” Emily said, settling herself into the seat of Dillon’s car. “She’s been nice to you the past few weeks.”
“I’m just kidding around with her, Em.” He closed the door. Emily watched as he made his way around the car and slid into his seat. “She needs to learn how to take a joke,” he said, starting the engine.
“I know, but please—for my sake—just leave her alone, okay?”
Grabbing for her hand, he maneuvered himself into traffic. “Alright, alright, I’ll leave her alone.”
“Thank you.”
He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it. “No problem. Do me a favor though. There’s a file in the backseat. Can you grab it for me?”
She unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for it. After adjusting it over her body again, she glanced down at the file. Her heart skidded across her chest when she saw the name Blake Industries on the top-right corner. Although not graceful by any means, she had somewhat managed to keep her “new friend” from her thoughts the past several weeks, and now out of nowhere, she was essentially holding him in her hands.
“Here,” she said, attempting to hand the file to Dillon.
“Just hang onto it for now. We’re stopping by his penthouse before we go shopping. I have some papers I need him to sign before the weekend’s over.” He laughed, running his hand through his dirty-blonde hair. “He’s a pain in my ass, I have to admit. The motherfucker’s always adjusting his damn stocks.”
“Oh…well…I’ll just wait in the car while you go up then.” She tried to appear casual as she glanced out the passenger-side window.
“You’re not going to wait in the car. One, it’s going to take a while because I have to go over a few things with him, and two, I want you to see what we will eventually be living in one day. His place is off the hook.”